Effect of concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin versus concurrent chemoradiation with carboplatin in locally advanced carcinoma cervix: A quasi-experimental study

Background: The standard approach for locally advanced cervical cancer is concurrent chemoradiation with platinum agents, preferably cisplatin. This study was aimed at comparing the treatment response and toxicity of carboplatin-based versus cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiation in locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted from September 2022 to August 2023 on 80 patients with locally advanced carcinoma cervix. Patients were divided evenly between the two arms (40 in each Arm). Arm A received weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m2, Arm B received weekly carboplatin with an area under the curve equal to 2 during external beam radiation. Then all the patients in both arms were treated by intracavity brachytherapy. Each patient was evaluated weekly during treatment and three months after the completion to assess treatment response and treatment related acute toxicities. Results: After three months of completion of treatment, the response was statistically similar between arms [Arm A, 35 (87.5%) versus Arm B, 37 (92.5%), P=0.71]. In terms of toxicity, while Arm B had significantly less anaemia (P=0.03), vomiting (P=0.05), and renal toxicity (P=0.03) than Arm A. Other toxicities such as leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, hyponatremia, radiation-induced dermatitis, cystitis, proctitis, and diarrhea were similar between arms. Conclusion: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin had a similar therapeutic response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin in locally advanced cervical cancer. Furthermore, the carboplatin arm had lesser toxicity than the cisplatin arm in terms of anaemia, vomiting, and renal toxicity

FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE DECENTRALIZED MODELFOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PABNA

Pabna, a city in Bangladesh, generates approximately 48 tons of municipal solid waste per day. Most of them are dumped without any treatment in a nearby dustbin, which is ultimately polluting the environment. This study aims to assess the practicability of decentralized solid waste management (DSWM) by community participation to grasp things regarding the segregation, storage, and assortment of family waste, the data of the residents, and their willingness to interact in DSWM. A stratified random sample, comprising 400 respondents, was selected for a questionnaire survey in different wards of Pabna municipality. Survey results indicate that only 20% of residents segregate solid waste at home. Among them, 56% of residents sold their waste, including plastics, newspapers, glasses, old clothes, etc., to the scrap market or street hawker. This research revealed that males had higher general knowledge than females about the decentralized process, and higher educated peoples in different age groups are more concerned about the DSWM system. Depending on the survey results, this study suggested a cost-effective analysis for the development of a box composting plant to facilitate the DSWM in the selected study area.</p

Secure and efficient drug supply chain management system: Leveraging polymorphic encryption, blockchain, and cloud storage integration

The counterfeit medication infiltration within global supply chains poses a major public health threat. To address this, a collaborative effort among governments, regulators, and pharmaceutical companies is essential to secure the global/local supply chain. This paper proposes a novel approach that leverages blockchain technology, polymorphic encryption, and cloud storage to tackle security risks and privacy concerns in medication supply chains. The framework integrates a drug supply chain decentralized application (also called SCMapp) within the Ethereum blockchain, enabling functionalities like secure supplier onboarding, encrypted data management, cloud storage integration, and efficient data retrieval. This approach aims to revolutionize drug supply chain management by enhancing security, transparency, and overall efficiency, ensuring adherence to global health regulations. A safe and effective method for managing drug supply chains is provided by the suggested Drug Supply Chain Management System. The proposed model outperformed existing solutions in terms of security, efficiency, and traceability. The combination of encryption, blockchain, and cloud storage provided a comprehensive approach to address the challenges of drug supply chain management. The comparison analysis highlighted the unique advantages of the proposed model over other methods. Godkänd;2025;Nivå 0;2025-06-30 (u5);Full text license: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0;</p

Study on Ocular Prosthesis for the Rehabilitation Of Patient With Ex-ophthalmic Socket

Background : Among the extra-oral maxillo-facial prosthesis, single ocular prosthesis is one of the important type- which is concerned with the patient’s psychological, emotional status and facial expression. This prosthesis fits over an orbital implant and under the eye-lids. Typically known as glass eye which provides no vision only aesthetics. Ocular prosthesis are made of glass, medical grade plastics, PMMA, silicone, plaster. Ocular prosthesis may be ready-made or custommade. The objective of the study was to compare the ready-made and custom-made ocular prosthesis for providing best rehabilitation of patient with ex-ophthalmic socked (Single).&#x0D; Materials and methods: It was a prospective comparative in vivo study carried out Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, BSMMU, Dhaka from January 2009 to December 2010. 40 patients with single ex-ophthalmic socket were selected from outpatient department considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into two groups. In group A 20 patients were given custom-made ocular prosthesis. In group B 20 patients were given ready-made ocular prosthesis, patients were observed clinically and evaluation were done on the day of insertion, after 1 week, 2 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months interval.&#x0D; Results: The results were evaluated by specific parameter as comfort, aesthetic, movement of the ocular prosthesis during facial expression. After observing the patients it was revealed that custom made ocular prosthesis was better in comfort, aesthetic and movement during facial expression than readymade one.&#x0D; Conclusion : This study revealed that custom made ocular prosthesis is better for the rehabilitation of the patient with single ex-ophthalmic socket. Ready made one can be used for a short period of time as a temporary measure.&#x0D; JCMCTA 2019 ; 30 (2) : 52-56</jats:p